Welsh language supporters have set up camp in front of the Senedd building in Cardiff Bay insisting that the Government changes six language policies including Welsh-medium education for all and planning law changes to help the language, ahead of a statement by the First Minister this week.
The action by Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg is part of a series the language campaigners have organised over the spring, in order to press the Welsh Government to get to grips with the crisis facing the language, following the drop in the number of Welsh speakers. Carwyn Jones is expected to make a statement about the Government response to the Census figures this Tuesday, 18 months since their publication and a year since a Government consultation on the state of the language - the “Cynhadledd Fawr” (Big Conversation). The campaigners said they will use their six policy calls as their criteria for appraising the First Minister’s statement.
Cen Llwyd on behalf of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg commented: “Carwyn Jones’ government has a chance to take big bold steps this week; after 18 months of delays, excuses and laughable statements. On the other hand, worthy reports have been published calling for a shift to Welsh-medium education for all, changes to the planning system, a far greater investment in the language. What’s been missing is government action. The people of Wales are very supportive of our unique national language, but, is it enough of a priority for Carwyn Jones’s Labour Government? Is sleepy Carwyn Jones going to wake up? Those are the questions which will be answered this week.”
Robin Farrar, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg added: "I’m delighted to be here today - we want to live in Welsh and to see action to deliver that vision. For eighteen months, we have been been letter writing and holding meetings with all political parties. By protesting here, we continue to hope we see positive changes: with political will the language can thrive over the years to come.”
In October 2013, the conclusions of the Cynhadledd Fawr - the Welsh Government’s consultation on the state of the language following the Census results - were published. Among the main recommendations were the need to increase financial investment in the language; radical changes to the teaching of Welsh as a second language; and changes to planning law. The following month, the First Minister announced he would be launching a campaign to encourage people to use Welsh five times a day. The Government’s draft planning bill did not mention the Welsh language once.